With mayor out of town, Malia Cohen signs own cannabis moratorium

With Mayor Ed Lee traveling abroad, Supervisor Malia Cohen signed her own legislation Friday to halt approvals of new cannabis business permits for 45 days in San Francisco.

The moratorium comes just as the city’s new Office of Cannabis prepares to roll out dispensary permitting regulations at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. The sale of recreational marijuana will become legal throughout the state on Jan. 1.

Cohen, who is serving as acting mayor until Lee returns home Sunday evening, said the mayor supports her legislation. The moratorium will give the city time to come up with consistent guidelines to evaluate dispensary applications, Cohen said.